Leeds United’s wage bill is a good representative for how much Premier League clubs need to be spending just to avoid relegation. The Yorkshire club had the 19th lowest bill in England’s top flight, as per Planet Football, and it showed, as they finished 17th and just above the bottom three.
With new names such as Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, and Marc Roca arriving this summer, the wage bill at Elland Road could well increase over the coming season. Logic suggests that should see Jesse Marsch’s side climb the Premier League.
But who are the top earners at Leeds? Find out how much each player takes home per week according to Salary Sport...
Rodrigo - £100,000
Patrick Bamford - £74,000
Raphinha - £63,000
Jack Harrison - £60,000
Diego Llorente - £57,000
Junior Firpo - £55,000
Stuart Dallas - £53,000
Daniel James - £52,000
Illan Meslier - £41,000
Robin Koch - £38,000
Kalvin Phillips - £38,000
Liam Cooper - £35,000
Luke Ayling - £35,000
Mateusz Klich - £34,000
Pascal Strujik - £29,000
Adam Forshaw - £28,000
Tyler Roberts - £22,000
Jamie Shackleton - £17,000
Kristoffer Klaesson - £15,000
Cresencio Summerville - £8,400
Charlie Cresswell - £5,400
Joe Gelhardt - £5,100
Cody Drameh - £4,400
Nohan Kenneh - £3,900
Lewis Bate - £3,000
Sam Greenwood - £2,600
Amari Miller - £2,500
Dani van den Heuvel - £2,400
Jack Jenkins - £2,100
Liam McCarron £2,000
There’s a few surprising numbers in this list, from Kalvin Phillips’ wage to Joe Gelhardt’s. Phillips, who could join Manchester City this summer, is currently on £38,000 a week at Leeds. For a full international, who has played a pivotal part in their country’s run to a Euros final, that’s a fairly low salary.
Phillips’ ambitions match that of Manchester City, but the salary he will likely receive at The Etihad Stadium will also add plenty of attraction to any potential deal. The fact is, Leeds’ wage structure makes it near impossible for them to keep hold of key players in the long-run.
Meanwhile, the salary that will frustrate Leeds fans the most is that of Rodrigo. Many believe that the forward has underwhelmed since making the move from Valencia for £27 million in 2020.
The fee that was paid for the Spanish forward already looks pricy, but add in his £100,000 a week salary and those at Elland Road have every right to be angered by his disappointing record of 13 goals in 62 appearances. The same could be said for Junior Firpo, who has hardly set the world alight in Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, the likes of Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper and Mateusz Klich are on relatively modest wags considering their importance to the Leeds cause during Marcelo Bielsa's time at the club.
But Jesse Marsch will hope that the players who have been bought so far this summer will have a far bigger impact on the pitch, rather than the wage bill.